In the 12-year period of 2005 through 2016, canines killed 392 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 65% (254) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Guide Dog Victims Speak Out
San Francisco, CA - Attacks on guide dogs, particularly by pit bulls, is a serious issue. A 2003 survey revealed that 42% of guide dog teams in the U.S. have experienced an attack. Guide dogs are trained not to fight back. After an attack, many of these valuable dogs are too mentally scarred to return to their duties. Theresa Duncan (left) and Jim Power discuss the harmful trend. Marikay Batina (right) tells how a pit bull crushed her in-training guide dog's jaw.

From left: Theresa Duncan and Redford.

On January 1st 2005, San Francisco instituted Pavley Law, which makes attacks on guide dogs punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a maximum fine of $10,000. It is unknown if the owner of the pit bull that attacked Batina's dog, named Rampart, was finally punished under Pavley Law. At the time this series aired, San Francisco had not yet adopted its mandatory pit bull sterilization law. Perhaps since passing it, attacks on guide dogs have fallen.

Anonymous | 12/11/2008 10:41 AM | FlagI believe it is a felony in some states for a person to injure or kill a service animal who is performing its duty...so why is it A-OK for a human to allow their pit bull to do it? The pit bull is just the instrument, the weapon.

Shouldn't owners of dogs that maul service animals be charged with a crime?

shlomo hakohen | 10/18/2009 7:11 PM | Flagmaybe it's time for a new guide dog "accessory" - a cattle prod or a can of mace, carried in the back of the guide dog's harness, and labelled "for emergency use only".

it's understandably difficult for a person who needs a guide dog to fend off a pitbull in the first place, but it isn't easy for a passerby, who wants to help, to do it barehanded, either.